Self-loading fastener means



the fabric.

United States Patent Ofice Patented Sept. 20, 1960 SELF-LOADING FASTENERll [EANS Melvin Epstein, 128-45 236th St., Laurelton, N.

Filed June 3, 1959-, Ser. No. 817,934

4 Claims. (Cl. 1-46) This invention relates to manually operated devicesfor threading through penetrable materials, such as fabrics and thelike, thin fastener bars which are attached to extended flexiblestrands. More particularly, it relates to a device of the type describedprovided with a detachable self-loading needle assembly which permits amultiplicity of such bars and strands to be successively loaded inthreading position automatically upon each operation of the device.

Tags recording price and other data are usually attached to articles ofclothing, fabrics, and the like by means of a short loop of string, theends of which are joined together at the center of a thin transversefastening bar. When this bar is passed through the material it cannotreturn 'therethrough, thereby holding the tag in place. To thread suchfastening bars through fabrics, a convenient device is in common usewhich includes a plunger having a lateral cross section substantiallyequal to that of the bar and a slotted tubular needle through which theplunger may be manually reciprocated. The fastening bar is firstinserted in'the needle with the string hanging through the slot and theneedle is passed through Then the plunger is pushed through the needleand the bar exits therefrom on the backside of the fabric. When theneedle is withdrawn, the tag is left securely attached on the frontsidesince the transverse bar cannot return through the fabric.

A major disadvantage of this otherwise satisfactory tag-threading deviceis that, after each operation, the next 'bar and attached string must'becarefully inserted into the needle before the operation can'be repeated.In fact, the inserting procedure between operations of the deviceusually takes far more time than the operations themselves. Also, theoperator must have with him a supply of string-attached bars and tagsfrom which he 'can select the ones to be inserted in the device, andoftentimes such a supply can become badly snarled.

It is the broad purpose of this invention, therefore, to provide anassembly for use with such fastening devices which permits aconsiderable number of these bars and attached strings to beautomatically loaded succes sively into operative threading positionafter each operation. Thus, the operator need not pause 'in'his work toinsert the bars and strings individually but can go from one piece ofmaterial to the next Without stopping. Moreover, his supply ofstring-attached bars and tags are kept in orderly arrangement on thedevice itself and consequently does not tend to become snarled andtangled.

Accordingly, the invention provides a detachable selfloading needleassembly in combination with adevice for threading through penetrablematerials a thin bar transversely attached to an extended strand. Such adevice includes a plunger which has a lateral cross sectionsubstantially equal to that of the bar and which is selectivelylongitudinally reciprocable in ajframe from a retracted positiontherewithin to an extended position projecting therefrom.

Broadly stated, the new assembly comprises a hollow tubular membersubstantially defining a rectilinear 'bore extending completelytheret'hrough. The tubular member is adapted to be fitted to :the framewith the bore aligned with the plunger. Also, the plunger is adapted tofit closely within and project substantially to the outer end of thebore when moved to its extended position. Formed in the tubular memberis a first slot which extends from the outer end thereof a considerabledistance along its length in communication with .the bore therewithin.This first slot is narrower than the thickness of the bar and wider thanthe thickness of the strand. A magazine extends sidewardly from thetubular member and substantially defines a thin elongated chamberopening into the bore. Formed in the magazine is a second slot whichintersects the first slot and extends a considerable distance along thelength of the magazine in communication with the elongated chambertherewithin. This elongated chamber is adapted to receive a multiplicityof the bars in s'ide-by-side relationship with the respective strandsattached to the bars extending through the second slot. A spring-mountedslide is movable within the elongated chamber for urging the barstherewithin toward and 'into said bore.

By this construction, as the plunger is reciprocated the bars are urgedlaterally through the chamber by the slide with their attached strandsadvancing through the second slot. Then they are successively forcedlongitudinally through and out of the bore with their attached strandsadvancing through the first slot. In one embodi- .ment of the invention,the tubular member is bevelled at its outer end to provide a pointedterminus for piercing .the penetrablematerial. However, if this wouldtend to tear the material, a second embodiment is provided wherein thetubular member is faced off at its outer end to provide a flat terminusand the bar itself is pointed to pierce the material.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow withreference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. '1 is an .elevationpartly broken away of a fastening device of the type described equippedwith the selfloading needle assembly of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly broken away of the device of Fig. 1 withthe needle threaded through a piece of fabric and about to discharge afastening bar;

Fig. 3 is a section partly broken away taken along the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

'Fig. 4 is a plan view partly broken away of the upperside of the deviceof Fig. '1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly broken away of theunderside of the magazine and the adjoining portion of the tubularmember; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of anotherembodiment of the tubular member of the new assembly adapted to threadpointed string-attached bars through penetrable material.

Referring first to Figs. 1 through 4, the device includes a conventionalbody portion or frame =10 adapted to be gripped in the hand of the.user. Slidably mounted in the body portion 10 is a plunger 11 which isselectively longitudinally reciprocable from a retracted positiontherewithin, as seen in Fig. l, to an extended position projectingtherefrom, as seen in Fig. 2 The plunger 11 is selec tively operated bymanipulation of a thumb actuator .12 adapted tomove the plunger on itsslidable mounting.

In reciprocating in and out of the body member 10, the plunger 11 passesthrough a clamp 13 extending from one end of the body member. As shownin Figs. 1 and 3, the clamp 13 defines an inner cylindrical slit seat 14section to the channel.

concentrically surrounding the plunger II in its extended position. Apair of opposed clamping portions 16 and 17 depending from each side ofthe seat 14 are threaded through by a screw 19 which, when tightened,draws the portions 16 and 17 together and closes the seat 14.

It is the purpose of the clamp 13 to'hold a needle assembly 20 throughwhich the plunger 11 may be recip- V passing the bar 22 and string 23through a hole in the tag which is not large enough to .pass the pieceof cardboard 24. g

The new needle assembly 20 is a self-loading unit which includes ahollow tubular member '26 having a rectilinear bore 27 extendingcompletely therethrough. The bore 27 a is large enough to permit one ofthe bars 22 to pass longitudinally through it. At one end of the tubularmember 26 is a cylindrical butt portion 28 adapted to fit into and beheld by the seat 14 with the bore 27 aligned with the plunger 11. Thelength of the tubular member26 and the diameter of its bore 27 are suchthat, when the butt portion 28 is held in the seat 14, the plunger -11is adapted to fit closely within and project substantially to the outerend of the bore 27 when moved to its extended position shown in Fig. 2.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the outer end of the tubular member26 is bevelled to provide a pointed terminus 30 for piercing the fabric21.

Also included in the tubular member 26 is an integral flat enlargedportion 31 adjoining the butt portion 28. A first slot 33 is formed inthe underside of the tubular member 26 extending longitudinally alongthe length of the tubular member, in communication with the bore 27therewithin, from the pointed terminus 30 thereof to the central portionof the underside of the enlarged portion 31 (see Fig. 6). This firstslot 33 is narrower than the width of the bars 22 but Wider than thestring 23 attached 7 thereto.

Extending sidewardly from the enlarged portion 31 of the tubular member26 is a magazine 35. In Figs. 3

V and 4, a flat extension 36 is shown on the magazine 35 which overliesthe upperside of the enlarged portion 31 and is attt-ached thereto by apair of screws 38. As shown in Figs. 4 through 6, the magazine 35includes a channel-like body section 40 having its open side directeddownwardly and extending sidewardly from and in the plane of the bore 33in the tubular member 26. The

depth and width of the channel in the body section 40 is somewhatgreater than the width and length respectively of the bars 22. Formed inthe side of the enlarged portion 31 of the tubular member 20 is arectangular passage 42 which communicates with the bore 27 therewithinand with the channel in the body section 40 of frocated to threadthrough penetrable fabric21 (see Fig. i

the magazine 35, and which is substantially equal in cross and 46 arespaced apart centrally under the body section 40 so that, with the bodysection 40, they form a thin elongated chamber 48 exposed by a secondslot 49. This slot 49 is equal, in width to and aligned with the shortslot 43 intersecting the first slot 33. As shown in Fig. 5, theseopposed edges of the plates 45 and 46 are round off with radii 51. Bythis construction, the 1 elongated chamber 48 is adapted to receive amultiplicity of the bars 22 in side-'by-side relationship with the re- 4spective strings 23 attached to the bars extending through the secondslot 49.

Longitudinally movable in the chamber 48 is an extended slide 52 havinga transverse cross section just slightly smaller than that of thechamber 48. The outer end of the slide 52 extends beyond the end of thebody section 40 even when its opposite end projects substantially intothe tubular member 26. On the outer end of the slide 52 is an upperrigid holed bracket portion 53 in which one endof a tension spring 54 isattached. The opposite end of the spring'54 is secured by a fastener 55on theupper side of the enlarged portion 31 of the tubular member 26.Thus, the spring 54 continuously urges the slide 52 into the chamber 48toward the tubular member 26. Tabs 57, on each side of the bracketportion 53, provided means for pulling the slide 52 out of the chamber48 against the force of the spring 54. To aid in reinserting the slide52 into the chamber 48, the corners 59 '(see Fig. 6) at the end of thechamber are flared out.

In the operation of this fastening device, the needle assembly 13 ismounted on the frame 10 by gripping the butt portion 28 in the splitseat 14 and tightening the screw 19. The slide 52 is then Withdrawn fromthe magazine chamber 48 by pulling outwardly on the tabs 57 against theforce of the spring 54. A multiplicity of string-attached bars 22 arethen slipped side-by-side into the chamber 48, with their strings 23depending through the slot 49, until the chamber 48 is approximatelythreefourths full. The slide 52 is next reinserted in the chamber 48 andforces the bars therein toward the bore 27 in the tubular member 26. Thefirst bar therefore passes through the passage 42, and its stringthrough the short slot 43, and enters the bore 27.

The pointed terminus 30 of the tubular member 26 is then pierced throughthe fabric 21 and the actuator 12 is moved forwardly. This causes theplunger 11 to move through the bore 27 and force the bar 22 thereintoward the open pointed end of the tubular member 26. The string 23advances through the first slot 33 as the bar 22 moves forward until thebar exits from the bore 27 on the other side of the fabric 21, as shownin Fig. '1. Then the tubular member 26 is withdrawn leaving the string23 threaded through the fabric 23 with the bar 22 holding it in place.

As the plunger 11 is returned to its retracted position shown in Fig. 1(and this may be done manually or automatically by spring-loading theplunger), the intersection of the bore 27 and chamber 48 is cleared bythe end of the plunger 11. When this happens, the bars 22 in the chamber48 are pushed forwardly by the slide 52 so that the next barautomatically loads into the bore 27. The strings 23 therefore advancein the second slot 43 and are prevented from being cut or frayed by theradii 51. Then, the tubular member 26 is inserted through another pieceof fabric and the newly-loaded bar is threaded asbefore. This operationmay be repeated a multiplicity of times until the chamber 48 is emptiedof string-attached bars.

Turning now to Fig. 7, a modification of this new assembly is shown forthreading fastener bars through a particularly fine fabric 60. All theelements of the assembly are the same except that the outer end of itstubular member 61 is faced-ofi to provide a blunt terminus 62. A pointedfastening bar 63 is used, however, so that the fabric is pierced by thebar 63 alone during operation and not by the tubular member 61 also. The

' blunt terminus 62 of the tubular member remains on the does thepiercing.

"Iclaim:

1.- In a device for threading through penetrable materials a thin bartransversely attached to an extended strand, said device including aplunger which has a lateral cross section substantially equal to that ofsaid bar and is selectively longitudinally reciprocable in a frame froma retracted position therewithin to an extended position projectingtherefrom, a detachable self-loading needle assembly comprising a hollowtubular member substantially defining a rectilinear bore extendingcompletely therethrough, said tubular member being adapted to be fittedto said frame with said bore aligned with said plunger, said plungerbeing adapted to fit closely within and project substantially to theouter end of said bore when moved to its extended position, said tubularmember having a first slot formed therein extending from the outer endthereof a considerable distance along its length in communication withthe bore therewithin, said first slot being narrower than the thicknessof said bar and wider than the thickness of said strand, a magazineextending sidewardly from said tubular member and substantially defininga thin elongated chamber opening into said bore, said magazine having asecond slot formed therein intersecting said first slot and extending aconsiderable distance along the length of said magazine in communicationwith the elongated chamber therewithin, said elongated chamber beingadapted to receive a multiplicity of said bars in side-by-siderelationship with the respective strands attached to said bars extendingthrough said second slot, and a spring-mounted slide movable within saidelongated chamber for urging the bars therewithin toward and into saidbore, whereby as said plunger is reciprocated said bars are urgedlaterally through said chamber by said slide with their attached strandsadvancing through said second slot and are successively forcedlongitudinally through and out of said bore with their attached strandsadvancing through said first slot.

2. In a device for threading through penetrable materials a thin bartransversely attached to an extended strand, said device including aplunger which has a lateral cross section substantially equal to that ofsaid bar and is selectively longitudinally reciprocable in a frame froma retracted position therewithin to an extended position projectingtherefrom, a detachable self-loading needle assembly comprising a hollowtubular member substantially defining a rectilinear bore extendingcompletely therethrough, said tubular member having a butt portionadapted to be fitted to said frame with said bore aligned with saidplunger, said plunger being adapted to fit closely within and projectsubstantially to the outer end of said bore when moved to its extendedposition, said tubular member having a first slot formed in itsunderside extending from the outer end thereof a considerable distancealong its length in communication with the bore therewithin, said firstslot being narrower than the thickness of said bar and wider than thethickness of said strand, 2. magazine extending sidewardly from saidtubular member and substantially defining a thin elongated chamberperpendicular to and opening into said bore at one end and having aflared outer end, said magazine having a second slot formed in itsunderside intersecting said first slot and extending a considerabledistance along the length of said magazine in communication with theelongated chamber therewithin, the edges of said second slot beingrounded, said elongated chamber being adapted to receive a multiplicityof said bars in side-by-side relationship with the respective strandsattached to said bars extending through said second slot, and aspring-mounted slide movable with said elongated chamber for urging thebars therewithin toward and into said bore, whereby as said plunger isreciprocated said bars are urged laterally through 'said chamber by saidslide with their attached strands advancing through said second slot andare suc cessively forced longitudinally through and out of said borewith their attached strands advancing through said first slot.

3. In a device according to claim 2 wherein said tubular member isbevelled at its outer end to provide a pointed terminus for piercingsaid penetrable material.

4. In a device according to claim 2 wherein said tubu lar member isfaced off at its outer end to provide a blunt terminus for the threadingof pointed thin bars.

No references cited.

